The race to the Democratic nomination for the 2020 U.S. presidential election kicked off in dramatic fashion. With more candidates than ever before, this cycle represents several potential firsts including first woman, first LGBTQ, first Latino or first black woman president.

It’s a crowded field and candidates have come out swinging. While some are on the attack, other presidential hopefuls are apologizing left and right as candidates face heavier scrutiny ahead of what many call a historically important election.

From deciding whether to move the party further left or stay centrist, to passing the torch to a new generation of history-making stars or staying loyal to older party favorites, the future of the Democratic Party could be at stake.

On today’s episode of The Heat Podcast, host Anand Naidoo joins radio host and columnist Charles Ellison to unpack the Democratic candidate pool and how its more diverse, progressive look could shape the road to the White House.